After Filing Petition

Once a timely and properly completed Taxpayer Petition is submitted, it will be given a petition number, entered into the computer and a copy will be given to the Assessor's Office.

This Board may not acknowledge receipt of Taxpayer Petitions. However, you will be notified when a petition is denied, untimely, or incomplete.

Although the majority of petitions must be filed by July 1st or 30 days after you receive notice of value change hearings for these petitions may not begin until late September or early October of the same year.

The number of petitions filed will determine the number of months the Board will be in session to hold hearings on petitions. This can range anywhere from five to nine months or even longer.

If you have not had a hearing prior to paying your taxes in the taxing year, you must pay them on time or you can accrue interest and penalty fees. There are no guarantees that there will be an adjustment by the Board. If you do receive an adjustment from the Board and you have paid the first half of the taxes, the Assessor/Treasurer will make a correction for the payment of the second half due in October. You may contact the Assessor/Treasurer's office for clarification if and when this becomes your situation.

You will be notified of your hearing at least 15 days before the hearing date. If you intend to submit any additional information to be presented at your hearing it must be submitted to the Board of Equalization seven working days before the date of your hearing. All information submitted by the Assessor and Appellant will be presented to the board prior to the hearing.

On the day and time of your hearing you will come to the Commissioners' Office at 351 NW North St. The time allotted for your hearing is 20 minutes. This will be broken up into segments to allow the appellant and the appraiser to each present their case. A few minutes will be given to each side for rebuttal.

After the hearing is closed and both sides have left the room the board will review the evidence and make a decision according to the law set by the State of Washington.

Your decision will be mailed to you within 30 to 60 days of your hearing. If you are not satisfied with the decision you may appeal to the State Board of Tax Appeals. This appeal must be submitted within 30 days of the date of the signed petition.